Joe Ongley

Sir Joseph Augustine Ongley (5 February 1918 – 22 October 2000) was a New Zealand cricketer and lawyer. He was a judge of the High Court.

Early life The son of Arthur "Joe" Ongley, he was born in Feilding and educated at St. Patrick's College, Silverstream, and Victoria College, Wellington, where he graduated Bachelor of Laws in 1939. A "correct, polished and dashing" batsman, he made his Hawke Cup debut for Manawatu at the age of 17 in 1935–36. Still only 18 when he was appointed, he captained the team in its six matches in 1936–37 and 1937–38, when Manawatu, the champions, withstood five consecutive challenges.

First-class cricket career Ongley made his first-class debut in 1938–39 for Wellington in the Plunket Shield, scoring a century in his first match against Otago. Batting first, at one stage Wellington were 116 for 5, but Ongley made 110, reaching his century in 149 minutes, and Wellington went on to win by an innings. He was selected to play for New Zealand later that season against Sir Julien Cahn's XI and made 35 as an opening batsman in a match ruined by rain.

He married Joan Archer in 1943. They had four sons and a daughter.

Ongley continued to play for Wellington, with moderate success, through the late 1940s, and captained the team from 1947–48 to 1949–50. He also continued to captain Manawatu in the Hawke Cup, including a period as title holders in the mid-1940s. He managed the New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 1967–68.

Ongley succeeded his father as Crown Solicitor at Palmerston North in 1960. He was appointed as a judge of the High Court of New Zealand in 1975, and served until 1986. In 1977, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, In 1990, he received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.